Meter



March 22, 1932. H. cHRlsMAN ET AL METER Filed Aug. 26, 192'? 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 22, 1932. CHRlSMAN ET AL I 1,850,828

METER Filed Aug. 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Warm.

March 22, 1932. H. c HRlsMAN T AL METER- Filed Aug. 26. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "fill/lll.'

March 22, 1932. H. CHRISMAN ET AL METER Filed Aug. 26. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @MM wwwa' Patented Mar. 22.,"` v,1932

Heimen cnnrsMAn Ann Nniisoivffa., sniisiinTQk or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, IAS- srenons To PITTSBURGHI EQUITABLE iinsxrnnrcoivnaainr,forl PITTSBURGH, :PENN- sYLvaNIA, A ConronATroN @F.LPENNSYLVANIA f MnTiainy .i Application yfiled-'August 26',` 1927. SerialNo. 215,605.

` Our invention relates to* meters or meas uring devices, andinore particularly to fluid or gas meters of the` wet or liquid-seal type. Meters offthis category, of large size tov measure gas in quantity, have been sub-jectl to various limitations kand disadvantages, among whichmay be mentioned: excessive weight of sealing liquid, which necessitates undulyk heavy and expensive meter lconstructions and l foundations therefore; large overall dimensions with the attendant crowding of available floor space and also high construction costs; inaccessibility of lparts forA inspection, adjustment `and repair, which isdue largely 15 to the necessityifor welded or'soldered casingk joints to prevent leakage; lossesin pressure, and inaccuracy in measurement, arising from friction, or fromy changes iii capacity due to j displacement of the sealing liquid and other y troubles well -known lin the art. j

We aim by our invent-ion to obviate or reduce these diiiiculties, to insure accuracy of: Ymeasurement,l to prevent loss vof the fluid being measured, to providey for ready accessto pense of large capacity meters and to increase their etlciency.V l Y o Morey specifically `the invention conteinplates ytheprovision of a meter wherein the casing is made in readily separable parts, one j of which contains the sealing liquid and cerltainpassages and chambers,another of which j, contains co-operating passages and cham- '.bers and most of .ther moving partsof the meter, and still another of which houses and provides ready Vaccess to the valves and-*valve seats of the meter, andall'iotwhich with their contained partsco-operate .to attain the ydesired results'. l

How the-foregoing advantages, and vsuch others as will occur vto those skilled in the art or are incident to our invention,arel ob; tained, will appear clearlyhereinafter, reference' being had to theV accompanying. draw ings, in which: f V i Fig. yl is a verticalsection through 'a meter embodying our invention'.A the view being taken. on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; i Fig.2 is a p-lan view of the meter of Fig.`

and adjustment of the parts ofthemeter, and in general to reduce the size, weight and exitwill be seen that cover member 3 liasa l, with a part of the casing removed to slignv` certain of the valve parts", y

Fig. 3 `is a horizontal section through Fig. 1 at the line otl the lianged joint between the macjn upper and lower parts of the casing; 3.1i i

@aanmeten j 'Referring to the drawings ingeneral it will he seenitha-t we have therein illustrated a n Fig.v #lis a yvertical view, partly in eleva' 'tion and partlyv in section, taken oii the y.line r4-Lief Fig. 1.k Y

gas meter hav-ing two main casing members,

the lower member .2 being in geiieral'in the form of anopen-top tank or housing, and the upper member 3 beingfin the `form of a rdeep f cover therefor.k 'The coverpart 3 is provided near the bottom-with an external langeft,

the portionof the casing below such'flange forming an inner lip'y or 'skirt 5. s The flange el is' adapted to yform a joint with the langey of they casing' member 2 by 4means of suitable bolts and nuts 7*, 8, `and gasket a,while the lip` 5, or upper casing eXtensiom-telescopes into `casing member V2; The vr'sealii'ig liquid, the level of which is indicated yat 9, thereby makes agastightk joint between the casing members. s

VAY third casingniember, A10, `forming a separate" and removabl'ecover for/the valves .and certain other parts located at the top of casing member 3, has a'ffiange llat the bottom,

i adapted to be secured to flange 120i cover 3,

as by. screws 13,"with a gasket b between the iianges. s

Referring now particularly to Figs. l and 3 Pan' of yvertical internal webs or partitions 14, 14,

with va cross-web 15 between them, i'orrni'n'g two chambers 16,:17,rand two gas passages 18, 19. Inverted gas-measuring cups or bells 20, 2l, are vadapted yto reciprocate in the re'- spective chambers 16, 17, and to maintaintheir alignmentand reduce rictiontheyvare provided at their corners with-rollersf22 lwhich ride along vertical guide rods 23.'

.The guide rods 23 `are secured at the top, as

. by nuts 24 (see Fig. 4), to cover 3, and serve as supports for thefframe members or bars 25,

'the respectivemeasuring cup. Shaft 30, as vshown in Fig. 1, is driven from shaft 31 through suitable bevel gears 36. f

Casing or tank member 2, as will appear from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, has formed therein a pair of upstanding conduit-shaped websy or ribs 38 and 39 adapted respectively to tele# scope at their upper ends into the gas passages 18 and 19 formed by the webs in the cover ,member 3, thereby forming continuations of said passages 18, 19 to the bottom of the casing- The passage 18 communicates at the bottom with the inner shell 4() which has an v upturned rim 40a extending above the surface 9 of the sealing liquid and forming a passage 18a opening beneath cup 20. Similarly passage 19 communicates with the shell 41 which has an up-turned rim 41a forming a passage 19a opening beneath cup 21. These shells 40 yand 41, extending up from the bottom of casing member 2 are C-shaped when viewed in plan (as shown in Fig. 3), and not only form gas chambers, as above explained, for delivery and exhaust of gas to the inside of bells 20 and 21, but also form displacers for the sealing liquid so as to reduce the` amount thereof required. Their C-formation provides spaces 405, 415. for the Wheels 32, con- 'necting rods 34, bearings 28 and 29, shaft 31 and gearing 36, which operate in the sea-ling vvp liquid itself, which preferably consists of a good lubricating oil, non-freezing at temperatures such asthe meter is ordinarily sub3ected to. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the 'bells or cups 20, 21, may be provided with raised portions a, 21a, respectively, to permit the maximum down-stroke of the cups without interference with the up-turned rims 40a, 41a.

At the top of cover member 3 we provide: on the upper side, a pair of valves, 42 and 43, preferably D-shape in` cross section (see Figs. 1 and 2), respectively controlling ports 44, 46, 48, and 45, 47, 49 and on the lower side, passages 44a, 46a, 48a and 45a, 47a, 49a, these passages beingpreferably formed integral with the casing member 3.

Valves 42 and 43 are slidable in guides50 and areA actuated, respectively, by arms 42a and 43a connected to crank 51 on the upper end of shaft 30. y

yPassage 44a opens into the chamber 16 above the measuring cup 20, and passage 45a .opens into chamber 17 above' cupy 21.

Passa-ge 49a communicates with the vertical gas passage 19, as shown in Fig. 1, and passage 48a similarly communicates with .ver-

tical pasasge 18 which is on the other side of the cross-web 15 shown in Fig. 3. Passages 46a and 47a communicate with the meter outlet 52 shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The meter inlet 53 communicates through a short vertic-aly passage 54 with the gas space 55 enclosed by the casing member 10, which, as before pointed out is a separately removable cover to give access to the valves and associated parts.V

Within the cover 10, aboveshaft 30, is a shaft 56 having a crank 57 actuated by crank 51, and carrylng a bevel gear 58 adapted todrive, throu h gear 59 and shaft 60, any suitable fluid ovv registering or recording mechanism )Ve have not illustrated such registering or recording mechanism, since it forms no part of the present invention, but it is obvious that it might be mounted either insidethe cover 10, or outside of it, in which latter casea driving connection would extend from shaft 60 out through a suitable packing or stuffing box in the side or top of the cover.

The valve-actuating crank 51, it Will be noted, is adjustably secured to shaft 30 by a set screw-(ilse that the valves may be properly synchronized with the measuring cups. The shaft itself is provided with a slip-joint 30a to permit of the removal of the cover without removal of the main shaft and associated parts. v

f Operation With the device in the position shown, the fluid to be metered passes from inlet 53 through passage 54 into chamber 55 from whence it passes through open port 45 and assage 45a into chamber 17 above measuring cup 21, the sealing li uid indicated at 9 preventing its escape. T e pressure of this .gas forces cup 21 downward, and at the same time the gas which had previously been admitted beneath the cup passes out through opening 19a into the interior ofthe shell 41 andvfr'om thence through passage 19, passage 49a, ports 49 and 47, and passage 47a 4to the meter outlet 52.

During thismovement, connecting rod 34 o f cup 21, as shown in Fig. 4, is turning the r1ghthand wheel 32 counterclockwise, as invdicated by the arrow, which, through shaft through itsy pin 33 (which is offset 90 with V reference to right-hand pin 33), and conf nectmg rod 34, starts the cup 20 upon itsy upward stroke, and as port 48 is opened, gas enters therethrough `into passage 48a and from thence through passage 18 into the interior of -shell 40, out through opening 40a l into `.-theY .interior of, or beneath, the .cup 20, causing it to .continue its upward movement.

Gas previously admitted above the cup will then be passing out through-passage 44a,

ports 444 and 4:6, and passage 46a, tothe meter Y outlet 52. y y

`Vhen cup 2O has risen half way, cup 2l will be at the bottom of its` stroke, and-as cup y21y begins to rise, port 45.` will be putV into communication-with port 47, and port 49 withinlet chamber 55, and soon. In.

short, the cups or bells act as the pistonsnot .a motor, and all the gas entering themeter must Aoperate the measuringbells, the' seal-c ,ing liquid preventing any' ley-passing, and

that the space on either side of the central Y, vertical shaft and betweenrthe measuring cups is utilized for conveying the gasto and from the bottom of the meter; that all passages are inside. the casing, insteadfof outside, thus conserving space and obviating leaks; that the lower casing member-or tank,

and. the upperl casingmember yor cover are formed respectively with upstandingand de- -fpending portions rvthat maybe'likened to hollow stalagmites and stalactites,-which telescope loosely at their ends, together forming the complete gas passages, with their overlapping parts sealed lby the liquid contained in the bottom of the casing; that'access to the parts may be had by lifting o the cover witho-utfdisturbing the Vsealing liquid; that Vthe lower shaft, wheels, cranks, etc.,'may-be removed with the cover, or Vthe cover separately -removed afterunscrewing the nuts 24 `holding the frame, the shaft 30' being provided withl a slip-joint 30a; that access to the valves and valve seats "and to the crankadjusting screw 6l maybe had VKby the separate removal of the valve-chamber cover; and that accuracyfof alignment of the cups and freedom from friction,` with consequent accuracy of measurement, are obtained by means of guides and co-operating rollers.

We claimz` f 1 ,In Va meter, the combination of a' split casing, `one part of which is adapted tocontain a sealingliquid, a frame ink said part having means whereby it is supported on the other part of the casing, movablejluidmeasuringbells supported by they frame and positioned tof-'be sealed by the liquid, and means foradmitting fluid alternately above and below said bells.

,Elg Inr a meter, the combination of a split casing, one part of whichis adaptedlto contai-na sealing liqu-id,7a vframe in ysaidV part `synchronizing the valve means. I

khalvingmeans,whereby it iszsupported on.,

the .other spart of the. casing, movable Huidmeasuringbellssupported by the .frame and .positioned toi-be sealed by the liquid, and' :means for admitting fluid vto said bells yincluding gas passages opening above and belowthem.v

' I 3. In a meter,` :the combination of a split casing, one part of which is adapted to contain ay sealing liquid, va 4frame inisaid part having means.y whereby it is'supported on u the other part of the casing,fmovable'fluid measurin'gbells ,supportedby the frame ,and positioned to be sealed by lthe liquid, and

" means for delivering gasy for loperating saidl bells including vgas pasages opening above and below them, and valve means controlling admission and vexhaust of Ythe gas.

s LLIna meter, the .combination of a split casing, one part of which is ladapted to contain a :sealing liquid,` aframe in said part having'means whereby it is supported on the other spart ofthe casing; movable fluidmeasuring bells supported by the frame and ypositioned to be sealed by the liquichand .Q means for deliveringgas for zoperating said bellsy includingzgas passagesv openingl above and below them, valve means controlling said f passages, :and `actuating mechanism for the valves vdriventby ,the-bells,

A5.1Ina. meter, they combination 4of casingone `partofwhich isV adapted to containv a sealing liquid, a-frame in said pant-v Y Vhaving means whereby itis supported on the other partyo-the casing, movable fluid-meas- .uring bellsfsupported by the frame andposi.-

tioned to be sealed by-the liquid,- and means foi-delivering gas for operating said bells including gas passages :openingabovey andk ybelow them,y valve means controlling-said passages, and actuating `mechanism for the valves driven y'by thebells, `said `actuating Y kmechanism including adjustment means for movement of the bells and `6. In ,a meter, the combination of a split casing, one.part ofl which vis adapted tovcontain a sealingvliquid, a frameinsaid,` parthavingineanswhereby it: is supported Yon v 'the other part of the casing, movable luidmeasuring bells, supported by the frame and positioned tobe sealed by; the liquid, and means for delivering gas for operating said f bells including gas passages opening above and below them, valve means controlling said passages, and actuating mechanism for the valves driven by the bells, said actuating mechanism beinginounted in part onsaid frame `and in part ionv the. second-mentioned part'fof the casing. c A

l 7.y In a meter'of the characterdescribed, 4a tank member and a'cover member forming a casing, a reciprocable measuring bellin said casing, a guiding yand supportingffraine secu-redtothe cover member, andA antifric'tion 8. A fluid meter comprlsing separable upper andlower housing members, a liquid.

sealing medium in the lower member, portions on the upper member projecting ydownwardly into the liquid, and portions on the lowery member telescoping therewith and projecting above the level of the liquid, certain of said telescoping portions cooperating with each other to form passages for the 4fluid to be metered.

9. A fluid meter-comprising separable upper and lower housing members, a. liquid sealing medium in the lower member, portions on the upper member projecting downwardly into the liquid, and portions on the lower member telescoping therewith and projecting above the level of the liquid, certain of said telescoping portions cooperating with each other to form passages for the fluid to be metered, together with liquid displacing means in the lower member.

10. A fluidfmeter comprising separable upper and lower housing members, a liquid seallng medium in the lower member, portions on the upper member projecting downwardly into the liquid, and portions on the lower member telescoping therewith and projecting above the level of the liquid, certain of said telescoping portions cooperating with each other to form passages for the fluid to be metered, together with liquid displacing means in the lower member forming continuationstof said passages.

11.'In ay gas meter, the combination ofaV `lower member, a separable upper member, a liquid sealing medium in the lower member, a U-shaped gas passage in the lower member with its ends surrounded by and projecting above the surface of the liquid, one leg of the U being substantially enlarged to form a liquid displacing means, and a gas passage in the upper member projecting downwardly into the liquid to telescope with the other leg of the U. 1

12. In a gas meter, the combination of a lower member, a separable upper member, a liquid sealing medium in the lower member, a U-shaped gas passage in the lower member with itsy ends surrounded by and projecting above the surface of the liquid, one leg of the s U being substantially enlarged to form a liquid displacing means, and a. gas passage in the kupper member projecting downwardly into the liquid to telescope with the other leg of the U, together with a reciprocable measf uring cup adapted to ytelescope with said enlarged leg of the U.

lower member, a separable upper lmembelga liquid sealing'medium in the lower member, a U-shaped gas passage in the lower member with its ends surrounded by and projecting above the surface of the liquid, one leg of the4 U being substantially enlarged to form a liquid displacing means, a gas passage in the upper member projecting downwardly into the liquid to telescope with the other leg of the U, a reciprocable measuring cup adapted `mechanism with the valve mechanism, said shaft extending through the gas passage in the upper member.

14. In a gas meter, the combination of a lower member, a separable upper member, a liquid sealingy medium in the lower member, a reciprocablc measuring cup projecting into the liquid, a valve above the cup, crank mechanism connected to the cup, a shaft connecting the valve with the crank mechanism, and means for hanging the cup and the crank mechanism from the upper member.

15. In a liquid seal meter, the combination of a gas chamber in the liquid, a gas passage communicating therewith and having an opening above the surface of the liquid, a valve chamber above the surface of the liquid and a second and separable gas passage connecting the valve chamber withsaid first gas passage,the lower end of said separable passage telescoping with the upper end of said first passage and projecting into the liquid.

16. In a liquid seal meter, the combination of an operating bell, a gas chamber having an opening above the surface of the liquid communicating with the interior of the bell, a gas passage communicating with said chamber and having an opening above the surface of the liquid, a valve chamber, and a second and separable gas passage connecting the valve chamber with said first gas passage, theconnecting end thereof telescoping with the open'end of said first passage and projecting into the liquid. f

17. In a gas meter, the combination of a bottom casing member, a liquid sealingmedium therein, an upper casing member having downwardly extending flange means projectying into the liquid, a pair of oppositely disposed liquiddisplacing chambers in the lower member with a comparatively narrow space therebetween, the adjacent walls of each ychamber being formed to provide a recess in the chamber side, a gas passage leading from each of said chambers and projecting above 'llt the liquid, said passagesbeing disposed in said space, corresponding gas passages in the upper member the lower ends of which project below the surface of the sealing liquid and telescope with the upper ends of the gas passages in the lower member, said up per passages being formed to 'divide the upper member into two chambersl corresponding to the liquid displacing chambers in the lower member,an operating bell in each upper chamber the lower end of which projects into the liquid and surrounds the displacing s chamber, an extension on each `displacing chamber Vprojecting above the surface of the liquid, said extensionf'being formed to pro-f vide an opening above the liquid for establishing communication between Ieach displaceing chamber and the space beneathl its cor-A responding bell, gas supply and exhaust passages vcooperating with saidchambers and said telescoping gas passages, valve means for controllingsaid gas supply and exhaust passages, crank means in the recesses in said displacing chambers connected to and actuated by` said bells, anda driving shaft connecting the crank means with the valve means, said crank means being located in the sealing liquid. l

In testimonvwhereofwe have hereunto signed our names.

HORACE CHRISMAN. NELSON J. SEIBERT. 

